Flash

"You'll probably be invited to the last big production on my list this summer, too."
    "What is it?"
    "The annual Glow, Inc., company picnic."
    He smiled slightly. "You're right. I expect to be on the guest list. And I will definitely attend that event."
    He turned back to the view out the office window. There was a fair amount of purposeful activity taking place in the studio, he noticed. An array of tools, art supplies, and electrical equipment littered the floor. The young man who had been introduced as Bolivar Chantry was deep into the guts of the control panel that had recently gone awry.
    Zara Chantry was busy at the drafting table. Her wealth of golden blond hair glowed in the light that filtered through the huge factory loft windows behind her. Jasper wondered why she looked vaguely familiar.
    Two androgynous figures, both artistically thin and terribly trendy, were at work in one corner. They appeared to be constructing huge foil flowers for a large silver foil vase. Jasper recalled that the pair had been introduced as Bernie and Matty. He was not positive which name went with which person, though. Maybe when he figured out which was the male and which was the female he'd get that part straight.
    "Have a seat," Olivia said behind him.
    "Thank you." Jasper turned to survey the one unoccupied chair in the office. It was heaped with a variety of vendors' catalogs.
    Olivia followed his gaze. "Sorry about that." She started to get to her feet. "I'll clear those off for you."
    "Never mind. I'll handle it." He picked up the stack of catalogs and hesitated briefly while he considered his few available options. There was no place to set his burden.
    "Just put them on the floor," Olivia said carelessly. She held up her latte cup. "Coffee? This came from the café downstairs, but I can make some for you, if you like."
    He glanced at the gleaming black industrial-sized coffee machine in the corner as he sat down. "No thanks. I had some earlier."
    "So did I." She took a deep swallow and set the cup down. "But I've been mainlining the stuff lately. The past few weeks have been murder."
    For some reason Jasper had a sudden vision of his battle for life on the Pelapili cliffs. "An interesting choice of words."
    "You know what I mean."
    He watched her lean back in her chair. She propped both feet on the edge of her desk and stacked her heels. The cuffed legs of her trousers fell gracefully away from her slender ankles. He hoped she would not light up a cigar.
    "Yes," he said. "I know what you mean."
    A cool, critical gleam lit her eyes. "Ever since we got the news about Uncle Rollie and Wilbur, I've been swamped."
    "I apologize for not getting back to Seattle more quickly. I only got word of your uncle's death a couple of days ago."
    "Your office said you were out of touch."
    "Sort of. I was supposed to be on an extended vacation."
    She did not appear to be appeased by that explanation, but she let it go. "It was a shock."
    "The deaths of your uncle and his friend? Yes, it was."
    "Rollie and Wilbur Holmes were more than friends. They were together for nearly forty years. Absolutely devoted to each other."
    "I believe your uncle once said something about Wilbur Holmes owning an art gallery?"
    "That's right. Wilbur sold it last year, though." Olivia sighed. "He and my uncle planned to do more traveling."
    "I see."
    "I'll miss them both." She picked up her coffee cup and raised it in a small salute. "They were a couple of the good guys."
    "I never met Wilbur Holmes, but I got to know your uncle a little. I respected his business skills and his sense of the market. He was a valuable client."
    "Yes, I imagine he was." She smiled a little too sweetly. "Glow's profits have started to climb again in recent months. But I suppose you already know that."
    "I'm aware of that fact, yes."
    "All that money Uncle Rollie poured into research and development a while back is finally starting to pay off. Glow is poised to move out of its regional niche. It's on the brink of becoming a major player in state-of-the-art light technology."
    Olivia's lecturing tone told him that she had decided to cast him in the role of the outsider who needed to be brought up to speed. The tactic was a not-so-subtle one designed to put him firmly in the role of the junior partner in this relationship.
    He decided it was time to flex a little muscle.
    "It was my money that good old Uncle Rollie used to finance Glow's R&D expansion." He smiled slightly. "But I guess